ASK TROOPER KEITH: Bad weather not an excuse for crashing

Wednesday

Dec 5, 2012 at 10:38 PMDec 5, 2012 at 10:45 PM

This week I will take this opportunity to discuss an issue that comes up every year this time of year. While we haven’t had significant snowfall yet, we certainly can expect that it will not be much longer.

MSP Trooper Keith Disselkoen

This week I will take this opportunity to discuss an issue that comes up every year this time of year. While we haven’t had significant snowfall yet, we certainly can expect that it will not be much longer.

We all know that inclement weather slows down our travel plans and that we should leave earlier and drive slower when the roads get slick. However, not everyone does this, and we all certainly find ourselves running late from time to time.

Many drivers in this situation find themselves in a ditch, up against a median barrier, or trading paint with another motorist. Often times, police officers arrive at these crash scenes and the at-fault driver may state that he or she was traveling the speed limit and could not stop in time or simply started sliding. While the weather and road conditions are a factor in the crash, these conditions are not the cause of the crash.

MCL 257.627 covers safe driving speed and section (1) states: “A person operating a vehicle on a highway shall operate that vehicle at a careful and prudent speed, not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway and of any other condition then existing. A person shall not operate a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than that which will permit a stop within the assured, clear distance ahead.”

For example, you are driving on a roadway (icy, slushy, wet, dry, or otherwise) and the driver in front of you stops at an intersection or slows for traffic. You hit your brakes, but cannot stop in time and hit the car in front of you. You are at-fault in the crash.

Some drivers may contest this ticket because they were driving at or under the speed limit but the road was slippery. But MCL 257.627 states drivers “shall operate that vehicle at a careful and prudent speed … which will permit a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.”

Please heed the warnings this year to leave earlier and drive slower in winter weather. There are many ways to check the weather and road conditions in advance by using your television, radio, Internet or cell phone. Please do so and help keep yourself, your family, and others safe this winter.

Keith Disselkoen is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Lakeview Post. If you have a question for Trooper Disselkoen, you can email him at asktrooperkeith@gmail.com.